Two women who carried out a campaign of harassment against their neighbours in Bassingham have been jailed
The mum and daughter have been jailed for over five years
Two women from Bassingham who repeatedly subjected their neighbours to loud banging noises and foul slurs have been sentenced to five and a half years in prison after being found guilty of stalking involving serious alarm or distress
The court heard 61-year-old Susan Chen, and Linda Lu, aged 35, previously of Linga Lane also played loud and taunting music - with the harrasment taking place for 24 hours a day over a three month period.
On sentencing, Judge James House KC said that the pair had begun a "persistent, calculated and appalling series of behaviours designed to cause the victims the maximum distress possible", adding that it was "one of the most serious cases of this kind that this court has had to deal with".
Both victims were praised by the judge for showing “remarkable courage” throughout the trial process. He also praised both officers who investigated the case, saying they "have been a credit to the uniform they wear".
Lead investigating officer, Community Beat Manager (CBM) PC Jordan Bathie-Drexler from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team explains why this was so much more than “just a neighbour dispute”.
He said:
“This case might be mistaken as a neighbour dispute. But what on the face of it looked like ASB, was actually offending against the victims that took place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over a three-month period until the offenders were remanded in custody.
"All steps of intervention and control – which included community warning notices, visiting from police and words of advice, working with the ASB officers at North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) – were ignored by the suspects, who made it their mission to torment the victims. The case highlights the importance of Neighbourhood Policing and having dedicated Neighbourhood officers for specific areas – and importantly the difference we have been able to make because we have that in place.
"The fact that as a local officer I have a good understanding of the local area and its community, meant the impact of crime in a certain area was recognised quickly.”
Before they were charged, the mother and daughter were issued with community protection notices, warning letters, and arrested on several occasions.
This did not stop their behaviour, and Linda Lu, a qualified solicitor, served multiple civil letters of claim which were entirely vexatious, to the victims as part of their stalking activities.
PC Bathie-Drexler added:
“In almost 10 years of policing, I have never seen such persistent, relentless and unprovoked offending by a suspect. Linda Lu utilised her position as a registered solicitor in order to carry out an all-out war on the victims of this case. This case has involved hundreds of hours work by police, as well as multiple witnesses who came forward assisted in the case and ensuring justice prevailed.
"The victims in this case have conducted themselves with dignity in what was a very distressing three months of their lives, and in reality, even longer as they sat through the trial process. They can now start to begin to rebuild their lives and return to some form of normality. I’d also like to thank the solicitors and staff working for CPS who worked tirelessly up to and during the trial, and the jury who had expected to be sworn in for seven days and ended up spending a month and a half at court.”